Woman arrested in Fla. for trying to carry loaded gun on plane

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Florida- A woman was arrested after security screeners at Tampa International Airport found a loaded handgun tucked in her carryon bag, authorities said.

Mavis Cobb Thornton, 58, was taken into custody after a screener discovered the .38-caliber revolver, loaded with three bullets, in her bag as she passed through a security checkpoint Monday, police said.

Thornton is on medical leave from her job as an accounting clerk for the Hillsborough County school district, district officials said. She and her husband, Charles, had tickets for a Delta flight Monday, but airport officials did not know their destination.

Mavis Thornton did not give a statement to police, but her husband told authorities he did not know his wife had the gun. She does not have a concealed weapons permit, airport officials said.

She was arrested on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. She was booked into the county jail and released after posting bail.

A phone message left at her home was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.